Episode 175
Eliano did not trust Eliza. Although Eliza claimed she would get along with Jane, Eliano could see right through her; she was clearly bullying Jane behind her back. Eliza’s behavior was both irritating and contemptible.
“Do you really think I’m leaving you behind just because of Jane? You need to stay here and watch over the North while I’m away.”
Eliza shook her head vigorously, tears welling in her eyes. Eliano said she was staying as a “representative,” but in reality, Eliano had granted Eliza zero authority. She literally meant for her to just stay in her place.
What was the point of that? Already, the gossips of the North, led by Irene, were whispering that Eliza had lost the Duchess’s favor entirely.
“Besides, your health is poor. How could I take you all the way to the capital?”
Eliano pointedly mentioned the rare disease Eliza suffered from.
“I just need my medicine! Morgan said he would pack enough for the trip!”
“I’m still worried. And I want someone who knows the North as well as you do to protect the Howard Estate.”
Frustrated, Eliza finally spat out her true desire.
“I want to see His Highness Hereis! I even went so far as to seduce the Jacadorian Prince for you, Your Grace. How can you do this to me?”
At that resentful shout, Eliano’s face hardened.
“Seduce? You call that seduction? Prince Bastian didn’t have the slightest interest in you.”
“That’s because I didn’t want to go to Jacador—!”
“Eliza, I told you. I never had the slightest intention of sending you to Jacador as a bride. That was the wish of your beloved Crown Prince Hereis.”
Eliano gave a cold warning.
“And the price for your hard work has been paid in full by giving you the position of a maid. Stop throwing tantrums, Eliza Palein.”
Eliano stood up, signaling the conversation was over. Eliza tried to grab her, but before her fingers could touch Eliano’s dress, Jane slapped the back of her hand.
Eliza glared at Jane with murderous eyes as she rubbed her stinging hand. Jane, however, lifted her chin and spoke sharply.
“Do not be disrespectful to Her Grace any longer. Is that how a lady-in-waiting behaves? If you are her maid, act with loyalty.”
After the brief lecture, Jane turned on her heel and followed Eliano. Eliza glared at their retreating backs with pure malice.
I won’t let this go…! Do you think I’ll just sit here and take this? Her eyes flickered with venom. She stormed back to her room and pulled out a letter that had arrived in secret.
「Accepting my proposal is not a betrayal of the North. Rather, it is justice. I hope you decide wisely.」
Eliza pulled out a fresh sheet of paper and began to scribble with her quill.
In the Imperial Palace of the capital, Empress Beatrice—who had been out of the public eye for some time—held a grand banquet. The main hall was packed with nobles.
“I heard a rumor that the Emperor and Empress are fighting… is it true?”
“I heard it too. They say the Empress went to the Emperor’s palace with her hair disheveled, wailing…”
“Did the Emperor do something to upset her?”
“Apparently, the Crown Prince had to go and comfort her personally…”
However, defying the rumors, Emperor Leopold appeared escorting Empress Beatrice. The two looked quite affectionate. As they received greetings and performed the first dance of the evening, they appeared to be a very close couple.
Even at this banquet, the Emperor mentioned the Duchess of Howard. Eliano Howard might not be in the capital, but she was treated as the premiere noblewoman of Vianteca. Such was the power of the Emperor’s favor.
“It would have been wonderful if Lia had attended with Flint. Dmitry, you’ll be reuniting with your daughter soon. Take this chance to reconcile with her.”
At the Emperor’s mention, the Duke of Rosana forced his lips into a smile, though they were trembling. His pride had already taken many hits.
Reconcile with Eliano? Not until she comes and begs for forgiveness!
The Duke gnashed his teeth. He had no desire to even see the face of the ungrateful daughter who had shamed him despite him raising her. But because the Emperor kept publicly branding him a cold-hearted father for not reconciling, the Duke’s blood boiled.
That damn girl hasn’t even tried to reconcile with me! The child should reach out to the father first, so why must I reach out to her?
Ever since Eliano married Flint, nothing had gone right for the Duke. When he was falsely accused of kidnapping his own daughter on her way to the North, he had been furious. But no one believed him. The Emperor had scolded him for refusing to admit to the “evidence,” further ruining his reputation.
And what about when the spies he sent to the Howard Estate returned as nothing but severed heads? Flint had sent the heads back with a chilling note.
「This is your final warning. If you touch the House of Howard again, think carefully about whose head will be next.」
The Duke had smashed his furniture and whipped his staff in a fit of rage that day. He still hadn’t forgotten it. Just hearing the name “Howard” made him bolt awake at night. Seeing the Duke’s beard twitching, Emperor Leopold spoke up again.
“A father and daughter should be on good terms. Dmitry, your problem is that you’re too petty. You shouldn’t be like that with your daughter. Think of how much Lia cared for you before the marriage, hm?”
“……”
“Where else would you find such a gentle and kind daughter? Don’t wait until you’re old and full of regret; follow my advice and let go of the grudge. If you act so terrifying, Lia won’t be able to approach you.”
If that girl cared for her father, she never would have shamed me like that! The Duke grew more heated as he thought about the rumors in high society that he was a “bed-wetter.” But he couldn’t get angry at the Emperor. He had to say something, but he refused to praise Eliano.
Empress Beatrice was the one who saved the Duke from his predicament, though even she spoke favorably of the Duchess.
“Eliano is such a wise and elegant lady. When the Duchess arrives in the capital, I must invite her to the Empress’s Palace for tea.”
“That’s a good idea. The House of Howard will likely host a banquet when they arrive; I should send a gift then.”
Princess Helena, now the Young Lady Alvici, walked toward the Imperial couple, supported by her husband.
“I greet the supreme Sun and Moon of Vianteca. I’ve been away lately, haven’t I? My body feels heavy, so I’ve been cutting back on my social life.”
Empress Beatrice’s gaze shifted to the Princess’s stomach. In her purple eyes, there was a longing, sadness, and despair she couldn’t hide. The Emperor, sensing the Empress’s mood, wished the Princess a safe delivery and made his exit.
Empress Beatrice picked up a plump grape. Just as she was about to put it in her mouth, Princess Helena covered her mouth and made a retching sound. Young Marquis Alvici fussed over his wife, asking if she was okay. The Empress watched the scene with disgust.
“You said you were five months along? Morning sickness should have ended long ago by that stage.”
At the Empress’s cold remark, the Princess giggled.
“The Empress might not know this… but morning sickness varies for every mother. I suppose I have a constitution that lasts a very long time.”
Princess Helena stroked her belly with a triumphant look. Beatrice’s insides burned. She might not know? Is she mocking me? But she held her temper.
“It must be a difficult child, troubling its mother already.”
The Empress’s beautiful face turned venomous, but Helena poked her further.
“As long as the child is born healthy, what does it matter? But morning sickness really is a struggle. I envy you, Your Imperial Majesty. You have a grown successor, so you have no need to get pregnant.”
Sparks flew in the Empress’s eyes. Envy? Envy her for a pregnancy she couldn’t achieve no matter how hard she tried! She bit into the grape with a crunch, as if she wanted to bite the woman in front of her.
“Princess Helena, do not be too relieved until you’ve actually given birth. You never know what might happen to a child. You must know that, since you hid your pregnancy for so long.”
Helena had hidden her pregnancy for three months before announcing it.
“You had better be careful.”
The Empress’s voice was hauntingly low. But Princess Helena just smirked.
“I’m past the early stages now, so the baby is as good as born. But Your Majesty…”
The Princess leaned in and whispered.
“Have you spoken to the Emperor about the Lanimel tea yet?”
In an instant, Empress Beatrice’s face turned a mottled red and blue. The Princess continued to chatter about the tea to the fuming Empress.
“Did you perhaps forget about the Lanimel tea? The precious leaves the Emperor supposedly gifts only to you. The ones grown exclusively for Your Majesty and sent regularly ever since your marriage…”
“Shut up! How dare you—!”
Beatrice shrieked in rage. The Princess put on a look of feigned surprise.
“But if it weren’t for me, Your Majesty would have spent your whole life never knowing…”
“I told you to shut up!”
